|
2-14 Dell OptiPlex Gn and Gn+ Low-Profile Systems Reference and Installation GuideThe number of unsuccessful attempts made to enter thecorrect system password can alert you to an unauthorizedperson attempting to use your system.Even after your system is turned off and on, the previousmessage is displayed each time an incorrect or incompletesystem password is entered.NOTE: You can use the Password Status category inconjunction with System Password and Setup Passwordto further protect your system from unauthorizedchanges. For more information, see “Password Status”found earlier in this chapter.Deleting or Changing an ExistingSystem PasswordTo delete or change an existing system password,perform the following steps:1. Enter the System Setup program and verify thatthe Password Status category is set to Unlocked.Enter the System Setup program by pressing the key combination. Press the key combination to move to Page 2 of the System Setup screens. For instructions on changingthe setting for Password Status, see “PasswordStatus” found earlier in this chapter.2. Reboot your system to force it to prompt you for asystem password.3. When prompted, type in the system password.4. Press the key combination todisable the existing system password, insteadof pressing to continue with thenormal operation of your system.5. Confirm that Not Enabled is displayed for theSystem Password category of the System Setupprogram.If Not Enabled appears in the System Passwordcategory, the system password has been deleted. Ifyou want to assign a new password, continue tostep 6. If Not Enabled is not displayed for theSystem Password category, press the keycombination to reboot the system, and then repeatsteps 3 through 5.6. To assign a new password, follow the procedure in“Assigning a System Password” found earlier inthis section.Using the Setup PasswordFeatureYour Dell system is shipped to you without the setuppassword feature enabled. If system security is a concern,you should operate your system with setup passwordprotection.You can assign a setup password, as described in the nextsubsection, “Assigning a Setup Password,” wheneveryou use the System Setup program. After a setup pass-word is assigned, only those who know the passwordhave full use of the System Setup program.To change an existing setup password, you must knowthe setup password (see “Deleting or Changing anExisting Setup Password” found later in this section). Ifyou assign and later forget a setup password, you need tobe able to remove the computer cover to change a jumpersetting that disables the setup password feature (see“Disabling a Forgotten Password” found later in thischapter). Note that you erase the system password at thesame time.Assigning a Setup PasswordA setup password can be assigned (or changed) onlywhen the Setup Password category is set to Not Enabled.To assign a setup password, highlight the Setup Passwordcategory and press the left- or right-arrow key. Thesystem prompts you to enter and verify the password. If acharacter is illegal for password use, the system emits abeep.NOTES: The setup password can be the same as thesystem password.If the two passwords are different, the setup password canbe used as an alternate system password. However, thesystem password cannot be used in place of the setuppassword.After you verify the password, the Setup Passwordsetting changes to Enabled. The next time you enter theSystem Setup program, the system prompts you for thesetup password.
|
